And Pallister believes that this impressive record is reason for optimism ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland:

“One result doesn’t make a season and there is certainly no need to panic. We saw enough in pre-season to expect a vast improvement on last season,” he is quoted by Goal.

“On paper we have an easier start to the season than last year and I expect United to bounce back at Sunderland on Sunday. There is time to get it right before we start meeting the big guns, but, equally, you don’t want too many results like Saturday and be falling behind before we reach that stage.”

United are thought to be close to signing Marcos Rojo while Arturo Vidal is also a target, and Pallister believes that not even a lack of Champions League football at the club will prevent big names from arriving:

“A club with the pull of United will always attract top players and Van Gaal’s presence should help further.”